“But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”
Jeremiah 9:24, ESV.
When Tim Allen was still doing his standup comedy act, I remember one of his bits about the purchase of a new riding lawn mower. He spoke of how the neighborhood men would gather and grunt about the new beautiful purchase. We like to boast about our toys, don’t we? It’s human nature. You have those who have and those who wish they had what another has. We celebrate it in our television shows. In the 80s, it was Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with Robin Leach, and other iterations have happened since then with different titles, but the same message, “Look what you can dream about getting!” The allure and temptation are real, and it was real at the time of the Old Testament and beyond. Jeremiah speaks to this in the verse for today, and Jesus taught the same, “Don’t boast in anything but God, but care for those things that God cares about.” God wants us to glorify Him and serve with righteousness. When we realize the steadfast nature of God’s love, it becomes the centerpiece of who we are and guides us in our practices in life. The things of this world will fade away. The truth about the rich and famous is that they still die, and the luxury that they lived in will not matter in eternity. The eternal things are where our focus should lie, and even for the rich, there is no guarantee. They may have received all their blessings in their lives here and now. But in Christ, we may be poor in the eyes of the world, but our riches extend into eternity.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.